In the Spotlight: Freddy Loix

It’s been more than six months since your last IRC appearance in Cyprus. What have you been up to?
“I have been driving a Peugeot 207 Super 2000 in the French championship. It has been a good start to the season for me driving against World Rally Cars.”

What have you missed about the IRC?
“I am missing the battle with the good drivers although on the other side the fight with Bryan Bouffier in the French championship is very interesting. He is in the same car as me and knows the Peugeot very well so we have some good battles.”

As a seven-time winner in Ypres it’s fair to call you the favourite for victory. Do you agree?
“Everybody is calling me the favourite but the level is very strong in the IRC and this is currently the only rally I am doing in the IRC this year. For sure my experience of the rally is helping me but it will be a big challenge against the ŠKODAs.”

How are you preparing for this year’s Ypres Rally?
“We will have two one-day tests, the second is on Monday [18 June]. The Peugeot is working well but we still have to make some improvements to make it more progressive and not so nervous. The stages in Ypres can be very slippery so the car needs to be precise.”

Much is made of the changeable weather conditions in Ypres. What do you know about the forecast for next week?
“Let’s say I am not concerned about the weather because I have won in wet and dry conditions. It doesn’t matter to me.”